Snow-plow



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

J. H. AYRES.

SNOW PLOW.

' 180.244,784. Patented July 28,1881.

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N. FETE, Mum wmgm D.C.

` ATTORNEY i 'i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. AYRES, OF PAOLA, KANSAS.

.SNOW- PLow.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters I atent No. 244,784, dated July 26, 1881.

- Application led May il, 1881. l(No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern: y

Beitknownthat I, JOHNH. AYRES, ofPaola, in the county-jot' Miami and State of Kansas, have in ven ted certain new and useful Improvements in'Snow-Plows; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de-` scription of the invention, such as willenable others -skilled in the art to which it pertainsto make and use it, reference being had `tothe accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention relates to au improvementin snowfplows,thc object of the same beingto provide a device capable of taking the snow from a railroad-track and fromthe sides thereof,'elevatin g the same, and discharging itfrom themachine on both sides at right langles to the elevators; and with these en dsin view my invention consists in certain details'incon-` struction and combinationsof parts, as will Y be more fully explained, and pointed outin the curved or scoop-shaped at the lower endand is adapted to run `slightly above the railaud cut the snow in advance of the elevators, and is also provided with two side pieces, a, and two partitions, e, the latter aii'ording bearings for the shafts carrying the endless elevator, and also for part of thegearin g which operates said endless elevator. lThe two partitionsand side pieces above referred to divide the apron Di'nto threecompartments, through which pass the shafts c, having grooved-faced rollers c3 journaled therein, and the shaft c carrying the drivinggear and pulleys, the latter having teeth on their surfaces which engage with the under side of the beltsandcarrythern upward. The side pieces, a, are provided with cuttingedges a', which` divide the snow, and the partitions are covered with bridges e', having inclined sides which completely cover the inner edges of the elevator-belts and prevent the snow from getting under the belts and on the gearing confined therein. The bridges c are also provided with cutting or dividing surfaces, which operate to direct the snow onto the large or central conveyer, d2, and the small side con veyers, d. The endless couveyers consist of a suitable belt, of any material suited for the purpose, having the shovels d3 riveted 0r secured thereon in any suitable manner, ou which the snow is carried to the top of the same, whereit is dropped onto the horizontal conveyers situated -behindand below the front elevator. The horizontal conveyers D' wind around the drums or pulleys journaled in the frame inoppositc directions, the latter being constructed precisely like thosedescribed for the front elevatorand discharge the snow at both sides of the machine with enough force toclear thetop of the banks and drifts, which prevents its return onto thetrack. The frame A Iis `continued upward at the back, which, in conjunction with the wings e?, form the rear side of the horizontal conveyers, the front side of which is shorter than the rear side, being formed by the pieces c2, situated at the rear of the front conveyers. The space between the adjacent ends of the horizontal elevators is covered by the bridge, having inclined sides, adapted to deiiect the snow as itfalls from the front elevatoronto the horizontal elevators, lfromwhence it is discharged.

lB is the rear axles, to the outer ends of which the wheels() are secured. These wheels are situated to the outside of the frame, and are partly inclosed in separate compartments, which protect themfrom the snow. Cog-wheels fare rigidly secured to this rear axle inside ofthe frame A, and mesh with the Wheels g loosely journaledou the shaft g', which in turn mesh with cogs h on shaft h', the latter having a bevelgear wheel rigidly secured thereto, which turns the drums carrying the horizontal elevators. Thecogs g, above described, have the sleeves g2 secured thereto, with which spring-pressed levers H engage, the latter having the tendency to keep the cogs in engagement with the wheels above and below.

When it is desired to move the machineforward or backward without operating the conveyers, the wheels g arethrown out of engage- IOO ment and retained by securing the levers H in any desired manner.

The axle B is secured to abolster, which allows the machine to be easily turned when on ordinary roads. The front axle, B, is rigidly secured in the frame, and is provided with the wheel C, the latter being incased precisely like the rear wheels. Cog-wheels l are secured to this axle B inside of the frame, and mesh with the wheels m loosely journaled on shaft m', the said wheels being provided with sleeves and spring-pressed levers like those described for the rear train of wheels for throwing them into and out of gear. This loosely-journaled wheel m meshes with the wheel o, which meshes with the wheel o rigidly secured to the driveshat't c' of the front elevator, and drives the same.

Mis adoorsituated at the rear ofthe machine, which affords entrance to the interior for oilin g the wheels and for operating the spring-pressed levers for throwing the wheels in and out of gearing. The front elevator is of greater width than those ordinarily constructed, and by dividing it into three separate compartments the strain from one side of the conveyer, striking a drift, is not imparted to the other side, and it consequently remains unaffected, and it also cleans the snow more eifectnally from the outside track when the train is turning short curves than can be accomplished with machines carrying only one elevator-belt. The weight of the machine also produces sufficient friction to run the elevators independently of any connection with the locomotive; but, it' desired, I can connect suitable pitmen from the engine with cranks on the .front and rear axles to operate the elevators. In the latter case the wheels on the axles could be journaled on a separate shaft, which would allow the rear axle to be constructed to turn without throwing the elevating mechanism out of gear.

If necessary, I can att-ach the machine to the front of the cow-catcher of the engine; but I prefer to remove the latter, so as to give a solid bearing to the back ofthe machine, which will cause the latter to run` smoothly, and will prevent the jarring and probable damaging of the same when a drift is struck.

When deep drifts are anticipated, instead of using the horizontal elevators to carry the snow oft the machine at both sides, one or more horizontal conveyers may be provided to carry the snow backward and discharge it into a car attached to the train for that purpose, and by running into the drifts and backing out and discharging the snow from the receiving-car several times a clearing may be made through drifts which have heretofore been iinpa-ssable. By using iron or chain belts all the tendency to give will be overcome, and the belts can be tightened or loosened by screws situated in the upper part of the frame. By coupling the axles by a drive-chain the power can be increased to drive the belts when heavy snows are encountered.

I am aware that snow-plows have been provided with two endless elevators, located respectively on opposite sides of the center of the inclined platform, and snow-deicctors being located in the space between the elevators for detlecting and discharging the snow at opposite sides of the track; also, that two such elevators have been employed in connection with a rotating cutting-wheel; and hence I make no claim to such construction and combination of parts.

1n my improved snow-plow I employ a wide endless belt, which is nearly as wide as the track, and which serves to elevate the greater portion of the snow. On opposite sides ofthe wide central elevator are located narrow side elevators, which extend outwardly from the sides of the track. When the plow is running around curves in either direction, and drifts are encountered close to one side of the track or upon one of the rails, the strain and labor of clearing the snow and elevating it are imposed on one ofthe narrow elevators, leaving the wide and other narrow elevator free from the lateral or diagonal strain, and thus preventing the shovels from becoming detached or torn from the-belts. By the employment of the inclined .bridges the ends ofthe shovels are completely protected and snow prevented from getting between the drivinggearl and belts.

Having fully ldescribed my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a snowplow,-the combination, withthe wide central endless conveyemdz, and narrow side endless conveyers, d df, ofthe bridges c c', constructed with inclined sides and arranged to overlap the adjacent edges of the three endless conveyers, substantially as setforth.

2. In a snow-plow,- the combination, with the central conveyer, d2, andside conveyers,dl d', of the bridges c' c', provided with front cuttingedges, a', said bridges beingconstructed and arranged to overlap thel adjacent edges of the three endless conveyers, substantially as set forth.

3. In asnow-plow, the combination, with the centr-al conveyer, d2, side conveyers, dl d', and bridges e c', ofthe lateral conveyers D D', substantially as set forth.

In testimony thatIclaim thetbregoinglhave hereunto set my hand this llthday of April, 1881.

JOHN H. AYRES.

Witnesses BURRFISHER, SAMUEL D. Coynov.Y

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